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The modern reincarnation of the Countryman was never a particularly small car, but for the all-new 2017 replacement Mini has made it larger again – in fact it’s the biggest Mini there’s ever been. The aim is to turn the Countryman into a proper family SUV that provides an alternative to the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca, only with a premium badge and the well-worn Mini charm.

The line-up of petrol and diesel engines are shared with the rest of the Mini range, and most models of the Countryman are available with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. A plug-in hybrid version (the first Mini of this type) goes on sale later in the year.

Space 8/10

A proper family car

Wide door openings mean the rear seats are easy to access, and passengers benefit from an extra 5cm of leg room compared with the previous Countryman. Very tall passengers will also appreciate the extra knee room yielded by the soft indents in the back of the front seats, not to mention the option of having the seats on runners so that they can be moved fore and aft.

You can just about fit three across the rear, helped by there only being a small lump in the middle of the floor to straddle, and lots of room under the front seats to tuck your feet. Up front is similarly spacious for occupants, and in addition to numerous cubby holes there is a decent glovebox.

The boot is similar in size to an Audi Q2’s, which is to say significantly smaller than you’ll find in a Seat Ateca. It’s tall rather than particularly deep, but is still big enough to accommodate most folded baby buggies, and the split load height is a useful touch.

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Comfort 7/10

We’d like to try a version on smaller wheels

So far we’ve only tested the Cooper S version of the Countryman on 18-inch wheels and the optional adaptive suspension. It’s a combination that retains the firm ride you expect of a Mini, which is particularly noticeable at low speeds. Hit several bumps in succession and it also rocks from side to side much more than a Seat Ateca would. While wind noise is well controlled, there’s noticeable roar from the tyres at motorway speeds, and the 2.0-litre petrol engine produces a disappointingly flat note when revved.

That said, the seats are supportive, and there is plenty of adjustment in the steering wheel, so finding a good driving position is easy. And we suspect that opting for smaller wheels would benefit ride comfort and noise levels.

Dashboard layout 8/10

Generally good, if an acquired taste

As with all Minis, the Countryman’s dashboard is an acquired taste. The circular housing for the satnav screen is a nod to the large central speedo of original Minis, and the upright air vents serve to differentiate it from the company’s other current models. That satnav screen is controlled either by touch or via the BMW iDrive-style controller, although the latter sits rather too low to be completely comfortable to use. The heater controls, which are housed in a separate row of buttons, are also tricky to decipher at a glance. Quality is excellent, however, with the Countryman feeling like a true premium product.

Easy to drive 8/10

Direct controls and good visibility

The entry level Mini Countryman is powered by a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine. While we are yet to try the car in this configuration, experience of this engine in other BMWs suggests it should be the pick of the range, with adequate performance and a pleasantly thrummy noise. The 2.0-litre turbocharged Cooper S model offers sufficient power for easy overtaking, and its steering is very direct, which makes the car feel responsive at low speed.

The raised driving position gives a commanding view of the road, and rear visibility is also better than you’ll find in most SUVs, particularly over the shoulder where the Countryman’s square shape and large windows work in its favour. That a good eight-speed automatic gearbox is available on most models is also to be commended.

Fun to drive 8/10

Good for an SUV, but other Minis are better still

Measure the Countryman by the high standards of other Minis and it is not nearly as much fun to drive. True, the body resists lean in corners and there’s plenty of grip on offer, but the car just doesn’t feel as agile or as nippy as you’d expect of something with a Mini badge.However, compare it with rival SUVs and it’s notable for how much sharper it feels. True, the steering ultimately lacks feedback, but it is never anything less than direct, and you can add more weight to it by putting the car into Sport mode.

Reliability 6/10

Mini’s record isn’t the best

The latest Countryman is too new to have been included in any reliability studies, but Mini as a brand didn’t fare brilliantly in the 2016 JD Power UK Vehicle Dependability Survey, finishing 18th out of 23 manufacturers, although that still placed it above BMW, Audi and Mercedes.

As with all Minis, the Countryman comes with a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty. That matches the Seat Ateca and slightly smaller Audi Q2, but is not as good as the Hyundai Tucson, which comes with five years of cover as standard.

Fuel economy 7/10

Good, but not outstanding

The most efficient version of the Countryman is the Cooper D manual, which returned 65.7mpg in EU fuel tests, placing it behidn the Renault Kadjar or Nissan Qashqai. Upgrading to All4 four-wheel drive reduces that figure to 59mpg, which is about the same as the more powerful Cooper SD. Petrol Countrymans returned 40-51mpg in official tests, with our time in the Cooper S automatic All4 automatic resulting in a figure of 34mpg. That’s about 5mpg shy of the admittedly less powerful Seat Ateca 1.4 TFSI.

The plug-in hybrid version, due to arrive later in 2017, will however give Mini a standout performer when it comes to on-paper economy, with an official figure of 134.5mpg.

Affordability 5/10

Expensive for a small SUV

Although Mini will in time sell an entry level One version of the Countryman in the UK, from the car’s launch the cheapest model will be the mid-range Cooper. As a result, the on-paper starting price looks expensive, particularly when compared with its non-premium rivals, and that’s before you raid the options list.

From launch there’s also no version which emits less than 100g/km of CO2, which means the Mini will be the more expensive to tax than something like a Renault Kadjar, at least until the plug-in hybrid version goes on sale at 49g/km thanks to its 25-mile electric range.

One option that you definitely should add is Mini’s tlc package; it covers all servicing for five years or 50,000 miles, as well as the cost of any replacement parts that are needed to get your car through an MoT during that period.

Safety 7/10

Awaiting official crash test results

The Countryman is yet to be assessed by crash test organisation Euro NCAP, but comes with a full complement of airbags and an electronic stability control system to help you get the car back on course if it begins to skid. Even so, it’s worth noting that Mini’s Clubman only scored four out of five stars in the Euro NCAP tests, so we’d hope for the Countryman to do better.

All versions come with an autonomous emergency braking system that can apply the brakes if the car senses you are about to hit the vehicle in front, while a pedestrian detection version of this and active cruise control are available as optional extras.

Standard spec 8/10

All models come with satnav

All versions of the Countryman are fitted with satnav as standard, along with cruise control, Bluetooth phone connection, rear parking sensors and a 6.5-inch touchscreen. Cooper S and SD models add firmer suspension and larger wheels, while a high-performance John Cooper Works model is set to follow in due course. Among the many options, one that’s well worth considering is the Chili pack, which adds among other things climate control, part-leather seats and LED headlights.

Verdict 7/10

In its latest guise the Countryman has grown into a more useful car than ever before, while retaining enough of the charm of other Minis to feel genuinely different to rivals. However, it’s hard to avoid the fact that a Seat Ateca is bigger, cheaper and more comfortable, if not as quirky.